Gradifier vs Turnitin: Two tools solving two different problems
+ Gradifier: AI grading
Gradifier reads student work, applies your rubric, and generates grades and written feedback automatically. It works inside Moodle natively, grades images and diagrams, lets you control strictness, and discards student data after processing. Purpose-built for educators who need to grade at scale.
Turnitin: academic integrity
Turnitin checks submissions for plagiarism and AI-generated content. Its GradeMark tool lets educators annotate papers, but humans still assign the grades — Turnitin does not auto-generate scores or feedback. It’s the leading integrity tool, not a grading tool.
These tools don't compete — they complement each other
This comparison comes up because educators searching for “AI grading tools” often encounter both Gradifier and Turnitin. But they solve fundamentally different problems:
Turnitin answers: “Is this work original? Did a student write it themselves?”
Gradifier answers: “How well does this work meet the learning objectives? What mark should it receive?”
💡 Many institutions use both
A common workflow: run submissions through Turnitin for an integrity check, then use Gradifier to generate grades and feedback against your rubric. The tools cover different parts of the assessment process. If your institution already pays for Turnitin, Gradifier fills the grading gap it leaves.
If you’re looking for a tool that automatically grades essays and generates feedback — Turnitin cannot do this. GradeMark provides annotation tools for human graders, but the grade is always assigned by a person. That’s where Gradifier fits.
Side-by-side: Gradifier vs Turnitin
| Feature | Gradifier | Turnitin |
|---|---|---|
| AI auto-generates grades & written feedback | ✓ | ✗ Human grades via GradeMark |
| AI rubric generation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Strictness control (lenient ↔ strict) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant regrade after rubric changes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Grades images & diagrams | ✓ | ✗ |
| Grade distribution analytics | ✓ | Limited |
| Moodle-native grading | ✓ | LMS integration only |
| Plagiarism / similarity detection | ✗ | ✓ Core feature |
| AI-generated content detection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paper annotation (inline comments) | Feedback per student | ✓ GradeMark |
| Student data not stored after processing | ✓ | ✗ Submissions stored in database |
| Free plan available | ✓ 50 answers/mo | ✗ Institutional only |
| No IT / admin required for individual use | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pricing model | From $0 free / $30/mo | Institutional only, custom |
Gradifier's unique advantages
Actual auto-grading — not annotation assistance
Turnitin’s GradeMark lets you place inline comments and rubric scores, but you still assign every mark manually. Gradifier reads the answer, evaluates it, and generates the grade. You review — you don’t grade from scratch.
Works inside Moodle without exporting
Gradifier Assistant activates in your Moodle grading page. Turnitin integrates with LMSs but requires a separate submission workflow. For Moodle institutions, Gradifier is frictionless.
Data discarded — not stored in a database
Turnitin stores submitted work in its database — that’s how it detects plagiarism. Gradifier processes answers and discards them. For institutions with strict data handling policies, this is a critical difference.
Accessible without institutional procurement
Any individual educator can start with Gradifier’s free plan today — no IT approval, no institutional licence, no procurement cycle. Turnitin is institutional-only with custom pricing
Grades visual answers — diagrams, images, sketches
Turnitin checks text similarity and cannot evaluate visual answers. Gradifier grades images, diagrams, graphs, and annotated responses — making it suitable for STEM and design courses.
Strictness and regrade controls
Set how strictly your rubric is applied before grading, then refine and regrade the entire class instantly. No equivalent in Turnitin — because Turnitin doesn’t grade at all.
These tools answer different questions
Use Gradifier when you need to…
Auto-generate grades and feedback for a class set
Grade essays, short answers, and written work with AI
Grade inside Moodle without exporting
Start grading today without institutional approval
Ensure student data isn’t stored or retained
Grade visual answers like diagrams and images
Use Turnitin when you need to…
Detect plagiarism and text similarity
Identify AI-generated content in submissions
Annotate papers inline with GradeMark comments
Maintain a submission record for academic integrity